PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Gannon University men’s water polo team split a pair of contests on the opening day of the Bruno Classic hosted by Brown University. The Golden Knights rallied for a 17-12 win over Austin College in their 2021 season opener, then suffered an 11-7 loss to St. Francis College Brooklyn.
Facing Austin, eight different players scored goals, led by Drago Marjanovic (Belgrade, Serbia/North Allegheny (Pa.)) with four.
Gannon dominated play in the second half to post the season-opening win.
The Golden Knights were down 4-1 following an Austin goal with 4:23 left in the first quarter, but the frame concluded in a 5-5 tie. Following four consecutive Golden Knights’ scores to take a 5-4 lead – as Robert Bolmanski (Fairview, Pa./McDowell) punched in a shot with 1:10 left to give Gannon its inaugural lead of the season – Austin knotted the score with two seconds left.
Tied at eight-all by halftime, Gannon outscored Austin 4-2 in the third quarter and 5-2 in the fourth to claim the win.
Tied at 10-all, Gannon netted six of the next seven goals to pull away for the win.
Marjanovic gave the Golden Knights the lead for good at 11-10, finding the back of the net with 40 seconds left in the quarter. Marty Kaverman (Erie, Pa. / McDowell) added a goal with just four seconds remaining for a 12-10 advantage after three quarters.
Kaverman gave the Golden Knights a 13-10 advantage with 7:26 to play, and following an Austin goal, Marjanovic, Bolmanski and Tony Squeglia (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) accounted for goals to give Gannon a 16-11 lead with 3:22 remaining.
In addition to Marjanovic, Kaverman scored three goals, Ben Fribourg (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore), Tim Baer (Oceanside, Calif./Classical Academy), Vladimir Mickic (Subotica, Serbia/Nikola Tesla) and Bolmanski scored two apiece, while Dylan Schmitzerle (Richmond, Va.) and Squeglia both accounted for solo markers.
Max Wade led Austin with five goals.
Facing the Terriers of St. Francis Brooklyn, Gannon trailed by a 6-5 count at the half. However, St. Francis found the back of the cage five times in the third quarter while blanking the Golden Knights.
Gannon returned the favor in the fourth quarter to hold SFC without a tally, but the Golden Knights mustered only a pair of goals.
Marjanovic led the Golden Knights with a pair of goals, while David Gallion (Arlington, Va./Homeschool), Seth Johnson (Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier), Squeglia, Bolmanski and Mickic scored one goal apiece.
Overall, Gannon led just once at 1-0 at the 7:36 mark of the first quarter as the Terriers held the Golden Knights in check for the majority of the contest.
Information courtesy Gannon University Athletics Communications
